Prediction and odds for the game: Paderborn (21/10) v Hoffenheim (11/10)
We are backing the away win
When: Saturday, 23rd May 2020, Kick-off 14:30
Where: The Benteler Arena
On Saturday afternoon, Paderborn host Hoffenheim at the Benteler Arena, as the home side look to give themselves hope in the fight for Bundesliga survival.
Paderborn
After just one season in the German top-flight, it seems that Paderborn are destined for a return to the second tier. The home side are six points off the relegation play-off spot, so all is not yet lost. However, their recent form suggests that survival is beyond them.
Stefan Baumgart’s team head into this clash on the back of a seven-game winless streak, in which they suffered five defeats. A leaky defence has been their main achilles heel of late, as they have conceded at least twice in four of their previous five league games. A goalless draw at 16th place Fortuna Dusseldorf last time out at least saw a defensive improvement.
Paderborn have been truly woeful on home soil in the Bundesliga this season, suffering ten defeats in their 13 matches. They have also lost their last four straight league games on home soil while conceding at least twice in each loss.
Even the recent history of this fixture is against the home side, as they have failed to beat Hoffenheim in five matches, suffering four defeats in the process.
Hoffenheim
The visitors are still in the battle for the last European qualification spot in the Bundesliga. Alfred Schreuder’s team are ninth place in the table, four points off the top-six. A recent six-game winless run in the German top-flight has hindered their chances of booking their place in European competition for next season. A 3-0 home defeat by Hertha Berlin last time out means that the visitors have lost four of their last six league outings.
Hoffenheim’s recent league matches have been relatively high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in seven of their last ten matches. Both teams have also scored in four of their last five league games.
The visitors have an inconsistent recent away record in the Bundesliga. However, they head into this match on a three-game winless streak on their travels. Their last two away games have finished all-square. Their recent away matches have been low-scoring, with under 2.5 goals scored in four of their last five games in the German top-flight.
Conclusion
Neither team head into this game in any sort of form, unless you include bad form. Hoffenheim have the better quality and we are backing a narrow away victory for the visitors. We are also backing under 2.5 goals scored, as neither team has been prolific in the Bundesliga this season.
Verdict: We are backing the away win at odds of 11/10 and/or under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 11/8. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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Who will record a vital victory between these two out of form teams?
